Spring-biased toilet tissue holder

ABSTRACT

A spring-biased toilet tissue holder for conveniently retaining a roll of tissue. The holder includes a roller having a tubular body with end plugs configured to be received within the arms of the holder. The end plugs include radial flanges for decorative purposes and to aid in the removal of the roller with the cardboard tube. One of the end plugs include a depressible spring-biased button to facilitate removal and insertion of the roller into the holder. The button is received within a cavity formed in the end plug and includes a stem extending through an aperture in the cavity. A retainer ring prevents withdrawal of the stem from the aperture. A spring is coaxially mounted to the stem to bias the button outwardly.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/277,603 filed on Mar. 21, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] I. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to a holder for retaining a roll of toilettissue in convenient access and, in particular, to a spring-biasedroller for the tissue roll which facilitates replacement of the tissueroll as needed.

[0004] II. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] It is convenient to have toilet tissue at hand near the toiletfor immediate dispensing. Typically, toilet tissue is supplied incontinuous rolls of interconnected sheets allowing users to unroll thedesired amount before tearing away the dispensed portion. Although thetissue paper could be unwound from the roll, it has become far moreconvenient to mount the roll to a tissue paper holder which includes anaxial roller allowing the paper to be unrolled as necessary The rolleris detachably retained by a bracket which is secured to a wall or othersurface proximate the toilet.

[0006] In order to facilitate replacement of the tissue roll, the rolleris telescopically contractible to allow removal of the roller from thebracket. The bracket may include a pair of arms having apertures forreceiving the ends of the roller and retaining the roller in ahorizontal position. In order to insert and remove the roller, theroller is longitudinally contractible. Typical prior known rollersinclude two telescoping sections and an inner spring for biasing theroller sections to the extended position. The roller is inserted throughthe axial tube of the tissue roll and contracted to pass past the armsof the bracket. The ends of the roller are inserted into the aperturesallowing the roller to expand to seat within the aperture. These priorknown rollers are fairly utilitarian in structure and design. In somecases, unless carefully handled, the sections of the roller willseparate requiring reassembly by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0007] The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the priorknown toilet tissue holders by providing a uniquely designed rollerhaving a spring-biased end button for retention in the holder

[0008] The toilet tissue holder of the present invention includes afixed bracket capable of being mounted to a flat surface such as a wallproximate the toilet. The bracket will typically include a pair of armsextending from the wall, the arms having apertures in the inwardlydisposed surfaces of the arms. The apertures are configured to receivethe ends of the roller to support the roller in a horizontal positionbetween the arms.

[0009] The roller has a spring-biased component to facilitate insertionand removal of the roller, and the tissue roll, within the bracket arms.The roller of the preferred embodiment includes a tubular body havinginternally threaded ends. One end threadably receives an end plug havinga fixed hub. The other end threadably receives an end plug with abiasingly contractible button which operates as a hub. The plug of thesecured end includes an internal cavity open to the exterior of theroller and an axial aperture at the inner end of the cavity. The buttonincludes a stem which is received in the aperture of the cavity andwhich operates as an axis for a spring mounted to the button. Uponinsertion of the button stem through the aperture, the button is movablyseated within the cavity and the spring is biasingly disposed betweenthe end wall of the cavity end of the stem prevents withdrawal of thestem from the aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the end plugs includeradial flanges which can operate as decorative components to conceal thecenter tube of the tissue roll

[0010] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] The present invention will be more fully understood by referenceto the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, in which like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the view and in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet tissue roller embodyingthe present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the roller; and

[0014]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the roller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0015] Referring to the drawing, there is shown a toilet tissue roller10 adapted to retain a roll of continuous tissue paper for dispensing byunwinding the tissue paper. As is well known, the roller 10 is adaptedto be received within a bracket (not shown) designed to retain theroller 10 and therefore the tissue roll in a horizontal position. Forpurposes of description of the present invention, the bracket typicallyincludes a pair of spaced apart arms having apertures formed in theinwardly disposed surfaces thereof The roller 10 is received within theapertures of the arms to maintain the roller 10 in a spaced apartrelationship from the bracket wall.

[0016] The roller 10 of the present invention has a generallycylindrical configuration and includes a tubular elongated body 12having a length substantially corresponding to the length of a typicalroll of toilet tissue and a diameter capable of fitting within the tubeof the tissue roll. The tubular body 12 has a first end 14 and a secondend 16 which receive first end member 18 and second end member 20,respectively. The first and second end members 18, 20 are matinglyreceived within the respective ends 14, 16. In a preferred embodiment,the ends 14, 16 of the body 12 are internally threaded 22 to threadablyreceive the end members 18, 20. The end members 18, 20 are in the natureof plugs to close off the ends 14, 16 of the body 12. Also in apreferred embodiment of the invention, the end plugs 18, 20 are formedwith radial flanges 24 which provide a decorative accent as will besubsequently described.

[0017] The first end member 18 is an integral plug including the radialflange 24 and a fixed hub 26. Preferably, the hub 26 includes a shoulder27 between the hub 26 and flange 24 to keep the flange 24 spaced off ofthe hole face of the bracket holder for the roller 10.

[0018] The second end member 20 includes a depressible button 28 seatedwithin a cavity 30. The cavity 30 includes an interior end wall 32 and acylindrical side wall 34. An aperture 36 is formed in the end wall 32.The button 28 includes a hub portion 38 and a stem 40 for maintainingthe button 28 within the cavity 30. The stem 40 is configured to passthrough the aperture 36 of the end wall 32 and the button 28 isconfigured to be retractably received within the cavity 30. Uponinsertion of the stem 40 through the aperture 36 and the button 28within the cavity 30, a retaining ring 42 is secured to the stem 40 toprevent withdrawal of the stem 40 from the aperture 36. In order to biasthe button outwardly, a spring 44 is mounted within the cavity 30coaxial with the stem 40. The spring 44 extends between the button 28and the end wall 32 to bias the button 28 outwardly as shown in FIG. 3.However, the button 28 may be depressed into the cavity 30 to shortenthe roller 10 and allow it to be inserted into and removed from theretaining bracket.

[0019] With the roller 10 removed from its retaining bracket, the roller10 is inserted through the axial tube of a tissue paper roll. The roller10 and tissue paper can then be replaced on the bracket by firstinserting one end of the roller into the bracket and then shortening theroller 10 by depressing the button 28 allowing the other end of theroller 10 to pass into the retaining bracket. Upon insertion the spring44 will bias the roller 10 to approximately mid-stroke. However, becauseof the connection between the components of the roller 10, removal willnot cause the roller to fall apart either under the bias of the spring44 or simply by mishandling. In addition, the enlarged radial flanges 24provide a decorative accent capable of concealing the tube of the tissueroll. The enlarged radial flange 24 permits simplified removal of theroller 10 with empty cardboard tube by depressing on the flange 24 onthe fixed end 18 with two fingers. Typical prior known rollers requirethat one reach inside the cardboard tube with their thumb and forefingerand then squeeze and push the roller axially to remove.

[0020] The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearnessof understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should beunderstood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. In a tissue paper dispenser adapted to detachablyreceive a roll of tissue paper having an axial passageway, the dispenserincluding a bracket mounted to a fixed surface and having a pair ofspaced apart arms with inwardly disposed surfaces, the improvementcomprising: a roller adapted to extend through the passageway of thetissue roll to maintain the tissue roll within the dispenser, saidroller removably positioned between the inwardly disposed surfaces ofthe spaced apart arms, said roller including an elongated body with afixed hub at a first end of said body and a depressible hub at a secondend of said body to alter a length of said roller to facilitateinsertion between the arms of the bracket.
 2. The improvement as definedin claim 1 wherein said depressible hub includes a fixed housing havingan internal cavity mounted to said second end of said body and a buttonmovably seated within said cavity, said button forming said hub of saidsecond hub.
 3. The improvement as defined in claim 2 wherein said buttonis biased axially outwardly by a spring disposed within said cavity. 4.The improvement as defined in claim 3 wherein said button includes anaxial stem and said cavity includes an axial aperture formed in an innerend wall of said housing, said axial stem reciprocally received withinsaid aperture.
 5. The improvement as defined in claim 4 wherein saidspring is mounted coaxial within said stem and extends between saidbutton and said inner end wall of said housing.
 6. The improvement asdefined in claim 4 wherein said stem includes means for preventingwithdrawal of said stem from said aperture to retain said button seatedwithin said cavity.
 7. The improvement as defined in claim 2 whereinsaid elongated body has a tubular configuration, said first fixed hubreceived within said first end of said body and said depressible hubreceived within said second end of said body.
 8. The improvement asdefined in claim 7 wherein said first and second hubs include anenlarged radial flange having a diameter greater than a diameter of saidelongated body.
 9. A removable roller for a tissue paper dispenseradapted to detachably receive a roll of tissue paper having an axialpassageway, the dispenser including a bracket mounted to a fixed surfaceand having a pair of spaced apart arms with inwardly disposed surfaces,said roller removably received between the spaced apart arms andcomprising: an elongated body adapted to extend through the axialpassageway of the tissue paper roll, said elongated body having a firstand second ends; a fixed hub mounted to said first end of said elongatedbody; and a depressible hub mounted to said second end of said elongatedbody to alter a length of said roller for selective insertion betweenthe spaced arms of the bracket.
 10. The roller as defined in claim 9wherein said depressible hub includes a housing mounted to said secondend of said body, said housing having a cavity for reciprocallyreceiving a depressible button for altering the length of the roller,said button forming said hub of said second end of said roller.
 11. Theroller as defined in claim 10 wherein said button is biased axiallyoutwardly by a spring disposed within said cavity.
 12. The improvementas defined in claim 11 wherein said button includes an axial stem andsaid cavity includes an axial aperture formed in an inner end wall ofsaid housing, said axial stem reciprocally received within saidaperture.
 13. The improvement as defined in claim 12 wherein said springis mounted coaxial within said stem and extends between said button andsaid inner end wall of said housing.
 14. The improvement as defined inclaim 13 wherein said stem includes means for preventing withdrawal ofsaid stem from said aperture to retain said button seated within saidcavity.
 15. The improvement as defined in claim 11 wherein saidelongated body has a tubular configuration, said first fixed hubreceived within said first end of said body and said depressible hubreceived within said second end of said body.
 16. The improvement asdefined in claim 15 wherein said first and second hubs include anenlarged radial flange having a diameter greater than a diameter of saidelongated body.